Helming Leads Senate Republicans Fight To Rescind Governor's Power & Protect Nursing Home Patients

With the Legislature back in session this week, the New York State Senate Democratic Majority unanimously voted against amendments proposed by the Senate Republican Conference to restore checks and balances to our government and provide funding for our nursing homes.

“The Senate Majority missed a key opportunity this week to return to equal branches of government. No Governor, Democrat or Republican, should have the ability to make hundreds of unilateral decisions without input from or votes in the state legislature. While decisions must be quickly made in times of crisis, they should not be made in a way that undermines the foundation of our democracy and the system of checks and balances. This week, the Majority ignored this and even worse, ignored our nursing homes’ pleas for help, putting partisan politics first. It is now more important than ever that we work together and take care of our constituents,” said Senator Pam Helming.

The first proposal would have immediately stopped the Governor’s one-man rule of New York State after nearly 90 days of control. It would have put New York disaster emergency control policies in line with other states and would have required the Governor to receive Legislative approval for continuation of such powers. The amendment also would have mandated that the Governor transmit weekly reports to the Legislature during an emergency declaration and would have created communication between the governor and the parties affected by a suspension of laws during a state disaster emergency. 

Since early March, the Governor has issued 33 Executive Orders and has changed 250 laws. In one specific directive, he ordered that nursing homes and long term care facilities accept COVID-19 positive patients, a fatal move which is believed to have contributed to 5,800 deaths.

Video of the press conference regarding this issue can be found HERE.